Fergie gets candid about her use of botox and cosmetic procedures

Sarah 'Fergie' Ferguson has given a candid interview about her use of Botox and other cosmetic procedures.

Ahead of her 60th birthday on October 15, the Duchess of York has spoken in-depth about her beauty routine — a departure from other members of the royal family, who typically refrain from revealing their methods for staying youthful and glowing.

Fergie, 59, told the Daily Mail she used to use Botox "when there was nothing else available" and now undergoes laser face-lifts, but says she's always careful not to go too far.

Sarah Ferguson at the BFI Luminous Fundraising Gala in London on October 1. (Getty Images for BFI)

"I really don't like the frozen look," the former wife of Prince Andrew said. "I'm so animated and I like to be myself. I don't like the thought of needles and am very glad if I look well and happy."

Fergie receives her treatment from Dr. Gabriela Mercik, saying she's been a "guinea pig" for new treatments.

"I'm really happy to be open about what I've had done," the Duchess added.

"I really don't like the frozen look."

Ferguson said she began using organic fillers in 2013 to help smooth out her lines and then received a "thread lift" about five years ago.

The Duchess admits to having used Botox and other cosmetic procedures. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for GFI)

This involves the insertion of threads under the skin with a fine needle to gently pull up the skin; she says this encourages collagen production.

"I'm really happy to be open about what I've had done."

"Before I had it done, I thought, Oh, this is going to be painful, but it wasn't bad," she said. "My skin responded well. I think if you look at photos of me after I had it done, I look much better."

The Duchess spoke about her fine, fair skin and the effects of too much sun exposure when she was a child.

"When I was little, my mother thought Nivea moisturiser was sunscreen," she said. "Of course it wasn't. So that's where the damage began."